books.google.com - Who knew how simple Homeschooling could be? Tens of millions of parents like you#xA0;have decided that the best way to prepare their children for life is by educating them at home instead of at a traditional private or public school. No matter the reason you are considering homeschooling for your children's...http://books.google.com/books/about/Absolute_Beginner_s_Guide_to_Home_School.html?id=nThKh7t3MIkC&utm_source=gb-gplus-shareAbsolute Beginner's Guide to Home Schooling

Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Schooling

Who knew how simple Homeschooling could be? Tens of millions of parents like you#xA0;have decided that the best way to prepare their children for life is by educating them at home instead of at a traditional private or public school. No matter the reason you are considering homeschooling for your children's education, Absolute Beginner's Guide to Homeschoolingoutlines all of the legal, social, educational and logistical considerations that are part of the decision. With helpful and easy-to-read advice about everything from building curricula and setting up a home school classroom, to incorporating extracurricular activities like sports and field trips, this book will provide valuable help and ways to expand your children's homeschooling experience. Absolute Beginner's Guide to Homeschoolingwill help you decide if homeschooling is the best choice for your children's education and then guide you to the curriculum tools and community resources you need to make the most of at-home classes and activities. Here's a small sample of what you'll find inside: Tthe benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling The legal and educational requirements for the state you live in Valuable lists of resources like homeschooling organizations, curriculum providers, and networking groups Different ways you can test your child's true educational level, personality type and learning style Sample#xA0;plans to set up#xA0;your homeschooling classroom including workstations, a library, audio-visual equipment, computer access and progress testing Examples of field trips, sports, music, work or volunteer activities, online courses and tutor or mentor programs

From inside the book

Miser expresses some viewpoints which would seem to contradict what other homeschoolers say. On page 16, he seems to argue that a big problem is when schools try to stop using bad grades because such is claimed to harm kids. Ironically, it seems many other homeschoolers types argue that grades scar kids, yet Miser seems to be suggesting that schools that try to remove grades as doing a disservice.Also ironically Miser argues that competition is good and that the schools which remove such are erring. It seems to me that many other homeschoolers complain that the pressure of competition of the public schools damages kids. Again, ironically, Miser exalts standardized tests. So many other homeschoolers speak of standardized tests as if they are this great evil that harms children immensely. On page 55, Miser makes an excellent point that homeschooling can actually help the school district because he says, “In fact, removing kids from public schools improves the funding per student ratio because the same amount of funds educate fewer children”. That’s what you call wonderful logic.He thoroughly discusses the importance of addressing introversion and extroversion. He seems to oversimplify the differences between the two, but other than that, his discussion of this matter is stimulating. It’s something I have been thinking about lately coincidentally.On page 254, he mentions that some of the standardized tests demand a college degree to administer. To me, this seemed to be one of those pointless requirements. Homeschoolers say the school system is full of that. It is. I have experienced some pointless “licensed teacher” requirements when I have worked in the public school. I have been told that only licensed teachers can walk a group of kids down the hall, even though this is not consistently applied. I even volunteered to help this one kid study math in my free time, but I was told I couldn’t do that because there wouldn’t be a licensed teacher to supervise me. One other time, this one kid had to be monitored for discipline purposes and someone else couldn’t do it, but I said I could stay there and do that. Then I was told that such wouldn’t work because there needed to be a licensed teacher there. To me, it makes no sense that an adult can’t sit and monitor a student for a timeout without having acquired a teaching license. On page 258, Miser shared my concerns about needing a college degree for giving out these standardized tests. He said, “I don’t really know why a college degree is required to administer such tests. Doing so is mostly a matter of reading and following directions.” Indeed, some people who think they know it all, really are stupid about their arbitrary rules.Miser is more fair minded than some homeschooling proponents. On page 265, he states, “Of course, not everything about an institutional school environment is negative.” Since I work in the public schools, I have wondered how homeschoolers could object to some of the happenings of the public schools, since to me these seemed unquestionably good. Many homeschoolers suggest the public schools are almost entirely rotten, and I think they could see more grey. I think if more homeschoolers made the acknowledgments that Miser did, they would have a better argument. You look bad when you say something is rotten when it is undeniably good. Homeschoolers could be more discriminating as some of their arguments don’t seem valid to me especially when they paint the public education system with such a broad brush. I once did and would love to more often ask homeschoolers how one could object to this and that. The time I did so, I got a thoughtless reply full of crazed extreme hysterical thinking. I want to be a devil’s advocate so I can learn more from the homeschoolers and to determine for myself which homeschoolers’ criticisms of the school system are valid and which are not.

Review: Absolute Beginner's Guide to Home Schooling

User Review - Jennifer - Goodreads

Not blatantly Christian, but left out secular homeschool websites, also more of a school-at-home guide. Didn't discuss any options other than setting schedules, don't fall behind, where to buy desks ...Read full review

About the author (2004)

Brad Miser has written extensively about computers and related technology, with his favorite topics being anything related to Macintosh computers. Brad has written many books, and has had articles published in MacAddict and other magazines. Brad is the senior technical communicator for an Indianapolis-based software development company. Brad is responsible for all product documentation, training materials, online help, and other communication materials. He also manages the customer support operations for the company and provides training to its customers. Previously, he was the lead engineering proposal specialist for an aircraft engine manufacturer, a development editor for a computer book publisher, and a civilian aviation test officer/engineer for the U.S. Army. Brad holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (1986) and has received advanced education in maintainability engineering, business, and other topics. Brad lives in Indiana with his wife and their three daughters.